Automatic quick-disconnect coupling manual flow control



Dec. 15, 1953 c, w s 2,662,784

AUTOMATIC QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLING MANUAL FLOW CONTROL Filed May 21, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i INVENTOR.

, 0. B. L/vers ATTORNEY Dec. 15, 1953 c. B. LIVERS I AUTOMATIC QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLING MANUAL FLOW CONTROL Filed May 21; 1951 2 Shee ts-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. C. B. Livers ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 15, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC QUICK-DISCONNECT 'COU- I PLING MANUAL FLOW CONTROL Application May 2 1951, Serial No. 227,334

1 Claim.

This invention relates to quick disconnect hydraulic connections such as may be used, between two connected vehicles and which automatically dis-connect and close both ends of the disconnected line in response to separation of the vehicles.

An object of the invention is to provide an efieetive automatic disconnect coupling of inexpensive construction that is serviceable when exposed to dirt and dust.

Another object is to provide an automatic disconnect coupling with self closing valves which is of simple and serviceable design, and in which the valves can be manually closed or opened without disconnecting the coupling.

Still another object is to provide an. automatic disconnect coupling with self-closing valves in which the closing of the valves is. effected independently of and prior to separation of the coupling elements.

In accordance with the invention, serviceability in a. dusty environment is efiected by a design of the two coupling elements such that when they are separated all exposed surfaces are relatively smooth and devoid of. dust collecting recesses, whereby they can be easily wiped clean prior to reconnection.

Automatic closing of the valves prior to separation of the coupling elements is providedfor by locking the two coupling elements to ether with a toggle link latch mechanismv actuated by a bail, and providing a valve-actuating mechanism controlled. by the bail independently of the latch and actuated by the bail in advance of the actuation of the latch, whereby initial movement of the bail releases the valves into closed, position before the latch mechanism holding the couplings together is released.

Manual control of the valves while the coupling is connected is effected by providing an adjustable element on the bail for coupling the latter to the valve actuating mechanism.

A full understanding of the invention may be had. fromthe following detailed description with reference to the drawing in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a tractor and a hydraulically controlled drawn implement connected by a hydraulic line incorporating an automatic disconnect coupling (shown greatly enlarged) in accordance withthe invention;

Fig. 2' is a plan view of the disconnect coupling;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the coupling;

Fig; 4 is a detailed section in the plane IVIV of Fig. 3.

"Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section taken in the plane.VVfof Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 3 but showing the coupling disconnected; and

Fig. 7. is a side elevation showing an alternative method of mounting the coupling.

Referring first to Fig. 1, there is shown a tractor Ii) connected by a drawbar II to a plow I2 which has a raising and lowering mechanism actuated by a hydraulic motor cylinder I3. The cylinder I3 is actuated by pressure fluid transmitted, from the tractor I0 through hose lines I4 and I5 on the tractor and plow, respectively, which are interconnected by a coupling I6 in accordance with the invention. This coupling I6 is of such design that it can be manually disconnected when desired, or, if the drawbar II is disconnected or disabled and the tractor l0 pulls away from the drawn implement I 2'. the coupling I6 will automatically break so as to avoid damage to the hose lines I4 and [5. When the coupling I6 is disconnected, the two parts thereof automatically close the ends of their respective hoses l4 and I 5 to prevent escape of fluid.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the coupling I6 comprises a pair of coaxial, fluid-conducting members I! and I8 respectively which are adapted to be secured to the ends of the hoses I4 and I5 respectively. The two members I! and I8 have cooperating front abutting ends which, when the coupling is connected, are pressed together. A sealing ring II! in the member I8 effects a fluid. seal between the members when they are pressed together.

The members I! and I8 are held togeth r by a link and yoke mechanism. Thus the member I! has a. pair of oppositely directed recesses 20 (Fig, 4) therein which receive the ends of a pair of trunnion pin 2|, which are secured in a pair of hub members 22. Each hub member 22 is secured to the threaded end of a link 23, which threaded ends. overlap the member. H; the other ends of the links 23 overlap. and are hingedly connected by trunnions 24 to the ends of a yoke 25.. The threadedportion of each link 23 extends through av hole provided therefor in its associated hub 22 and also engages an annular groove ZIa in, the trunnion pin 2.I to lock the latter in the hub 22. The position of the link 23 is adjustable in the hub 22 by nuts 28 and 29 which are threaded thereon.

The ends of the yoke l5v are shaped to provide bearing surfaces 3| which engage cooperating bearing surfaces 32 on lugs 33 formed on opposite sides of the member I8. When the couplingis connected, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the yoke 25 straddles the member It in the axial plane of the lugs 33 and the trunnions 2| and 24 and the contacting portions of the bearing surfaces 3| and 32 all intersect the said axial plane, so that the separating force imposed on the members l1 and I8 by fluid pressure therewithin is taken directly, and there is no force couple tending to rotate the yoke 25 and thereby produce disconnection of the coupling. However, the yoke 25 is provided with a laterally extending arm 35 having an eye in its outer end for connection to a chain 31 or the like, which, as shown in Fig. l, is connected to the tractor II]. In other words, the arm 35 is connected to the same object that the hose I4 is. Furthermore, the adjustment is such that there is less slack in the chain 31 than in the hose 4, so that if a strain is placed on the hose l5 tending to pull the coupling member l8 away from the coupling member H, this force tightens the chain 31 and thereby applies a force couple to the yoke 25 tending to rotate the latter counterclockwise as seen in Fig. 3. The yoke will rotate in response to such a force couple, to cause the bearing surfaces 3| to disengage from the bearing surfaces 32 and permit the links 23 to rotate on the trunnions 2| simultaneously with rotation of the yoke 25 on the trunnions 24 so that the yoke and the links swing clear of the member [8, as shown in Fig. 6.

The coupling members l1 and I8 contain valves for closing off the ends of the couplings and preventing escape of fluid therefrom when they are disconnected from each other. Thus referring to Fig. 5, one coupling I8 has at its orifice a poppet valve seat 40 cooperating with a poppet valve 4| having a valve-actuating stem 42 which extends axially through the coupling and has a head por tion 43 on its outer end which protrudes exterior of the member 3 opposite its front end. This head may have a sealing ring 44 to prevent leakage of fluid from the coupling and entry of foreign matter into the coupling. A helical compression spring 45 compressed between the rear end of the valve seat 40 and the head portion 43 constantly urges the valve 4| against its seat, that is, into closed position.

The diameter of the head portion 43 is larger than the efiective diameter of the seat 40, so that internal fluid. pressure urges the valve 4| against the seat 40. The seating force thus produced will increase proportionately as the fluid pressure is increased.

The other coupling member I! has formed just within its orifice a valve seat 41 of larger diameter than the seat 40 and contains a poppet valve 48 which is urged against the seat 4'! by a helical compression spring 49 which is compressed between the poppet 48 and a spring retaining ring 50 positioned in a groove in the member H. The poppet 48 is hollow and has an enlarged rear skirt portion 48a which slides in the passage within the member I! whereby the poppet is guided in its movement. Fluid flow past the valve 48 when the latter is open is provided for by lateral openings 48b in the poppet between the seat contacting portion and the skirt portion 48a.

Since the valve seat 41 is of larger diameter than the valve seat 40, the poppet 4| is able to enter the member I! when it is opened, so that it can engage the poppet 48 and open the latter as well. Opening of both valves is effected by depressing the protruding head portion 43 of the stem 42.

This depression of the head portion 43 is produced by a valve actuating element 55 in the form of a screw threaded through the yoke 25 at the mid portion or bight thereof so that it is in alinement with the valve stem 42 when the coupling is connected, as shown in Fig. 5. It will readily be apparent that when the coupling is broken or disconnected as shown in Fig. 6, the head portion 43 of the valve stem is released by the screw element 55, thereby permitting the springs 45 and 49 to immediately move the valve stem 42 into an extended position and close the poppets 4| and 48 on their seats in the respective coupling members I! and I8.

It is also possible to open and close the valves 4| and 48 without disconnecting the coupling, by turning the screw element 55. This is advantageous, since it is sometimes desired to prevent any flow between a tractor and a drawn implement, even though it'is not desired to disconnect the line between the two devices.

When the coupling is to be manually disconnected, it is usually desirable to first release the valves by retracting the screw element before swinging the yoke 25 into the disconnect position shown in Fig. 6, since this makes it easier to effect the movement of the yoke.

The outer end of the head 43 is convexly curved, as clearly shown at 4311 in Figs. 2, 5 and 6. This makes it possible to connect the coupling while the screw element 55 is in valve opening position, since the tip of the element 55 initially contacts the rounded surface 43a of the head 43, and can thereafter slide therealong as the yoke moves into fully coupled position, depressing the head 43 as it does so.

Although it is usually desirable to provide a valve in each coupling member, as described, the invention is also applicable to a coupling having only the valve 4| in the member I B, the valve 48 in member being omitted.

It will be observed from Fig. 6 that when the coupling is disconnected, the ends of both the coupling members I! and I8 are separated from each other, and each coupling has relatively smooth surfaces, containing no deep recesses, so that the surfaces can be easily cleaned by wiping. This feature is very important in farm implements which are usually exposed to a great deal of dust and dirt. It is important, of course, to prevent entry of dust and dirt into the fluid passages of a hydraulic system.

It will be also observed that the coupling is of relatively simple construction and for that reason comparatively inexpensive to build.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the two hose elements have the coupling members l1 and I8 secured to their free ends, and the arm 35 on the yoke 25 is shown connected to the tractor III by the chain 31 for effecting automatic release in the event of strain on the hose |5. It is sometimes more convenient to secure the coupling member directly to one of the vehicles, usually the tractor. In this case, the member I! ii can be permanently secured to the tractor as shown in Fig. 7, in which the eye of the arm 35 is secured by a pin to a clevis 6| which is secured to a bracket 62, secured to and extending rearwardly from the tractor. The coupling member I! may still be connected to the hydraulic system of the tractor by a hose corresponding to the hose 4 in Fig. 1, but it is not necessary to provide as much slack in this hose as is shown in the hose H in Fig. 1. When a pull is exerted on the hose IS, the force couple produced between the hose l5 and the eye of the arm 35 disconnects the coupling as shown in Fig. 6 and the coupling member I I is retained in position on the tractor, only the coupling member [8 on the end of the hose 15 being permitted to fall away.

Although, for the purpose of explaining the invention, a particular embodiment thereof has been shown and described, obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art, and I do not desire to be limited to the exact details shown and described.

I claim:

A detachable coupling comprising: a pair of coaxial fluid conducting members having front abutting ends making fluid connection therebetween; one of said members having a valve therein and an axial valve actuating stem protruding from said one member opposite its front end and opening said valve in a depressed position and closing said valve in an extended position, and means urging said stem toward said extended position; said one member having a pair of diametrically opposite bearing lugs on its sides; a yoke straddling said one member in the axial plane of said lugs with its ends bearing against the lugs and its bight juxtaposed to said protruding stem, said bight comprising a valve actuating element bearing against and depressing said stem; a pair of connecting link-s extending from overlapping relation with said yoke legs to overlapping relation with the other of said members, and hinge means connecting the overlapping portions of said links to said yoke legs and to said other member respectively for swinging movement of said yoke out of said axial plane.

CARLOS B. LIVERS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 912,274 Bastian Feb. 16, 1909 1,593,772 Litster July 27, 1926 1,885,657 Walker Nov. 1, 1932 1,948,852 Gilfoy Feb. 27, 1934 1,993,167 Harts Mar. 5, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 180,143 Switzerland Dec. 16, 1935 

